Crop dusting machine



Dec. 11, 1956 c. E. SMITH CROP DUSTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Dec. 8, 1952 MW T m m W5 n Dec. 11, 1956 c. E. SMITH CROP nuswmc MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Dec. 8, 1952 w 2 mm D f um N Q Q H m R INVENTOR C". E. 5mm.

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5 f M K 0 United States Patent CROP DUSTING MACHINE Clarence E. Smith, Sharpsville, Ind.

Original No. 2,712,198, dated July 5, 1955, Serial No.

324,660, December 8, 1952. Application for reissue February 8, 1956, Serial No. 564,347

7 Claims. (Cl. 43148) This invention relates to a new and useful machine to be drawn by a tractor upon a field to simultaneously spray an insecticide dust upon a plurality of rows of plants.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel machine having a long boom provided with spaced dusting nozzles, said boom being swingable to a lateral position for use and to an idle position in which it extends longitudinally of the machine when the latter is to be moved from place to place, thus permitting easy movement along roadways through gateways and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide the boom in two longitudinal sections hinged together, the outer section being swingable onto the inner section when the machine is to be moved from one place to another, thus avoiding excessive projection of the boom to the rear of the wheeled chassis of the machine.

Yet another object is to make novel provision for mounting the boom and for holding it in its operative position.

A further object is to provide the boom of tubular form, whereby the boom itself conducts the dust to the nozzles instead of requiring other dust conducting means.

A still further object is to provide novel nozzles for spraying the dust in any required amount per acre and for giving almost one hundred percent coverage by blowing the dust through the foliage of the plants.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a dust spray machine sufiiciently rugged to carry a large supply of sacked dust in readiness for use instead of having to haul the dust to the machine in the field.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a dusting machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on line 22 of Figure 3, through a portion of the boom and one of the dust spray nozzles;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view partly in elevation, showing the manner of hingedly connecting the two sections of the boom;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the mounting and locking means for the boom; s

Figure 6 is a sectional view showing one example of dusting head which may be used to supply the dust to the tubular boom; and

Figure 7 is a side elevation showing the boom folded and in transporting position.

Figure 8 is a cross section taken on line 8-8 of Figure 3.

The construction shown in the drawings will be rather Re. 24,256 Reissued Dec. 11, 1956 specifically described but it is to be understood that nu merous variations may be made within the scope of the invention as claimed.

A suitable chassis frame 10 is mounted on an axle 11 having ground wheels 12. A tongue 13 is provided for the frame, said tongue having any suitable hitch for con nection with a tractor. The axle 11 is extensible and retractable to vary the wheel spacing according to the distance between the rows of the crop to be dusted.

A dusting head 14 is mounted on the chassis frame 10 and delivers the dust, suspended in a blast of air, to the boom 15, and said boom is [equipped] provided with spaced slots 15a and with a plurality of dust spray nozzles 16 in alignment with and over said slots.

At its inner end, the boom is mounted to be swung vertically and horizontally when required, as hereinafter explained, the mounting means being generally denoted at 17. To raise said boom when required, a hydrauliccylinder-and-piston-assembly 18 and cables 19 are provided. These elements 18 and 19 also prevent the boom from sagging during use.

To facilitate movement of the machine from place to place, the boom 15 is swingable rearwardly to a position (Fig. 7) in which it extends longitudinally of the machine, and to avoid excessive rearward projection of said boom, it is formed from an inner longitudinal section 20 and an outer longitudinal section 21 connected by a special joint 22 which allows the outer section 21 to be folded upon the inner section 20. Toward the rear of the machine, a seat 23 is provided to support the folded and rearWardly swung boom. The cables 19 may be wrapped around the folded boom when the latter is [supported in transportation position, as seen in Figure 7.] supported in transporting position, as seen in Figure 7.

One example of a dusting machine which may be employed, is more or less diagrammatically shown in Figure 6. It includes a dust hopper 24 which delivers the dust through a valve-controlled opening 25 into a tube 26 through which a blast of air is driven by a blower 27 at one end of said tube. The other end of this tube is flexibly connected by a base 28 with the inner end of the boom 15. A driving motor for the blower 27 is indicated at 29 in Figure l and there may be any desired driving connections from said motor to said blower.

Adjacent the dusting head 14 and motor 29 there is a suitable operators platform 30 which is preferably of such size that it may carry a plurality of sacks of dust to be dumped into the hopper 24 as required. A hook 31 is also provided for the empty sacks. This book is carried by a suitably braced standard 32 to which the cylinderand-piston-assembly 18 is swingably connected, for example, by means of a hook 33 and link 34. The standard 32 may also carry a spot-light 35 for use when operating the machine at night.

At one side of the chassis frame 10, there is an up standing arched frame 36, the crown bar 37 of which extends longitudinally of the machine. of this arched frame 36 carries the boom mounting means 17, and the rear portion of said frame carries a post 38 upon which the boom seat 23 is mounted. The boom mounting means 17 is shown in detail in Figure 5 to which reference is now made.

A U-shaped yoke 39 rests on the crown bar 37 of the arched frame 36 and is connected with said crown barby a vertical pivot 49. The side arms 39a and 39b of this yoke 39 straddle the inner end portion of the boom 15 and said boom is pivoted by a horizontal bolt or the like 41 to said side arms. Thus, the boom may be swung vertically upon the pivot 41 and horizontally about the pivot 40. The yoke 39 is shown as provided with a lug! 42 through an opening of which a pin 43 may be insertedinto an opening in the crown bar 37 to hold the boom The front portion in its lateral position for use. Also, to aid in holding the boom in operative horizontal position, a link 44 may be provided to connect a lug 45 on said boom with the upper end the yoke 3.9. One on th s l nk b 'a t n h oom is i be Swin rea w rd ns engaged with' the seat2 3 for transportation.

The joint 22 between the boom sections 20 and 21 is shown in detail in Figure 4. This joint includes two sleeves 46 and 47 welded around the adjacent ends of the boom'sections 2 0 and 21 respectively. Upper lugs 48 and 49 are provided on the sleeves 46 and 4'? respectively, and these lugs are connected by a transverse hinge pin 50. Lower lugs 51 and 52 are provided on the sleeves 46 and 47, respectively, and these lugs are normally connected by an easily removable lock pin 53. A suitable gasket 54 is provided between the sleeves 46 and 47 and is secured to' one of these sleeves. As long as the lock pin 53 is in place, the two boom sections 2t and 21 are rigidly connected, but removal of said pin 53 permits the outer section 2.1 to be folded upon the inner section 2%, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 4. Thus, the boom need not project excessively rearward when engaged with the seat 23 for movement of the machine from one place to ariother.

The construction of one of the spray nozzles 16 is shown in Figures 2 and 3 and all of said nozzles are identical. The nozzle includes parallel front and rear walls 54 and 55, angular end wall 56 which downwardly flare the nozzle toward the right and left, angular partitions 7, and a vertical central partition 58, said partitions being arranged to insure aboutequal distribution of dust from end to end of the nozzle. Over the partitions is an adjustable gate 59 which may be set to partially close slot a thereby to allow the desired amount of dust to be blown into and from the nozzle. By properly setting the gates 59 of the various nozzles, relatively, uniform discharge of dust throughout the length of the boom 15 may be insured.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a novel and advantageous machine has been provided for attaining the desired ends. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is to a large extent .illustrative rather than limiting, as various changes may be made Within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

[1. In a dusting machine, a wheeled chassis frame, a dust spraying boom to extend laterally from said chassis frame for use, a U-shaped yoke straddling the inner end portion of said boom, a horizontal pivot connecting said boom with said yoke, upon which said yoke rests, a vertical pivot connecting said yoke with said support, means for raising and lowering said boom about said horizontal pivot, and releasable means for normally holding said yoke against turning about said vertical pivot, said boom being swingable to a position extending longitudinally of said chassis frame, when the last mentioned means is released] [2. A structure as specified in claim '1; said support comprising an arched frame extending longitudinally ofsaid chassis frame, said yoke being disposed at the front end of said arched frame, and a seat supported by the rear end of said arched frame to support said boom when the latter is swung to said longitudinal position.]

[3. A structure as specified in claim 1; together with a link releasably connecting said boom with said yoke for holding said boom in horizontal position for use, said link being vertically spaced from said horizontal pivot] 4 In u dusting mdchinc, a wheeled chassis frame, a dust spraying boom to extend l terally to said chassis frame for use, a support on said chassis frame for providing vertical and horizontal swinging movement of said muons for raising and lowering said boom to pro said; swinging movement, and a source of airborne upled to one end of suid boom, said boom com a support on said chassis frame F prising an elongated duct member having slots spaced from End to end of said boom in its bottom side, nozzles communicating with said slots, and an adjustable gate operatively associated with at least one of said slots for controlling flow of dust from r ll of said nozzles.

5. In a dusting machine, a wheeled chassis frame, a dust spraying boom to extend laterally to said chassis frame for use, a support on said chassis frame for provid ing vertical rind horizontal swinging movement of said boom, means for rgising und lowering suid boom to pro,- virlc said swinging movement, and a source of airborne dust coupled to one end of said boom, said boom comprising an elongated duct member having slots spaced from end to end of said boom in its bottom side, nozzles communicating with said slots, cach nozzle including an adjustublc gate for controlling pressure within said duct and flow of dust from all of said nozzles.

6. In a dusting machine, a frame, a dust spraying boom supported on said frame to extend laterally thereof for use, and a source ofv airborne dust coupled to said boom, sold boom comprising an elongated duct member having slots spaced from end to end of said boom in one side thereof, nozzles communicating with said slots, and an adjustable gate operatively associated with at least one of said slots for providing uniform flow of dust from others of said slots. v

7. In a dusting machine, a wheeled chassis frame, a dust spraying boom supported on said frame to extend laterally thereof for use, and a source of airborne dust coupled to, said boom, said boom comprising an elongated duct member: having openings spaced from end to end of said boom in one side thereof, nozzles communicating with snid openings, and an adjustable gate operatively ussociulcd with said openings for controlling pressure within said duct and flow of dust from all of said nozzles.

8. In a dusting machine, a wheeled chassis frame, a dust spruying boom to. extend laterally from said chassis frame for use and including an inner section and on outer section hinged thereto, a horizontal and vertical pivot means Connected to the inner end of the inner boom se fan, a support on said chassis frame for supporting s ud horizontal and vertical pivot meansg mea ns for raising and lowering said boom about said pivot means consisting of a hoisting. means and a loop of cable having one end secured to the inner section of said boom and the other and secured to. the outer section of said boom, said hoisting meuns having u running coupling with said cable to provide divided lifting forces on said boo-m sections, releasable means for normally holding said boom against turning about a vertical axis, said boom being swing blc to a position extending longitudinally of said chassis fr mc, when the last mentioned means is released, and a sent spuced from said support and mounted on said chqssis frame to support said boom when the latter is swung to said longitudinal position.

9. In a dusting machine, a wheeled chassis frame,- a dust spr ying boom to extend laterally from said chassis frame for use, d U-shaped yoke. straddling the inner end portion. of said boom, a horizontal pivot connecting said boom with sgid yoke, a support on said chassis frame comprising an arched frame extending longitudinally of said chassis frume, said yoke. resting at the front end of said arch frame, a vertical pivot connecting said yoke with said support, meansv for raising and lowering said boom about snid horizontal pivot, releasable means for normally holding said yoke against turning about said vertic l pivot, sajd; boom being. swinguble to a: position extending longitudinally, from said chassis frame when the lust mentioned means is released, and a seat supported by the rear endofsaid arched frame to support said boom when the latter is swung to said longitudinal position.

In q dusting machine, a wheeled chassis frame, a dust spraying boom to extend laterally from said chassis shapedyqke, straddling the inner ehd h orizqntol pivot connecting said boom with said yoke, a link releasably connecting said boom with said joke for holding said boom in a horizontal position for use, said link being vertically spaced from said horizontal pivot, a vertical pivot connecting said yoke with said support, means for raising and lowering said boom about said horizontal pivot, and releasable means for normally holding said yoke against turning about said vertical pivot, said boom being swingable to a position extending longitudinally of said chassis frame, when the last mentioned means is released.

Peppler Dec. 5, 1893 McGraw Feb. 9, 1897 6 Hopper Nov. 14, North Ian. 9, Pease May 7, Foote Get. 11,. Pitner Aug. 20, Pitner Nov. 12, Gustafson May 19, Parker Nov. 13, Clark et a1. Dec. 5, Hartsock Feb. 13, Long July 14, Tuft Oct. 12,

FOREIGN PATENTS France Mar. 8, 

